The Faces Behind Stool4TB: Samali Nambatya
“I always wanted to be a nurse. It is my calling”
Samali Nambatya has been working as a nurse for the Stool4TB project in Kampala, Uganda for the past year and a half. Her presence and positivity lights up a room as she explains why her passion in life is to “see people get better.”
Nambatya is in charge of recruiting patients, going through a lengthy consent process, and collecting samples that she sends off to the labs. She proudly works as a nurse for Stool4TB and attends school simultaneously to further her nursing education. While doing both at the same time isn’t easy, Nambatya excels at both, reaching the top of her class in her studies.
As part of the recruitment process for Stool4TB, Nambatya screens potential patients for HIV, persistent cough, night sweats, weight loss, lack of appetite, and absence of TB treatment in the past year. She also has to explain to potential participants that it is important for them attend follow up, where they will receive the transportation reimbursement. When she faces reluctant participants she “shows them that [she] is there to help. If you can show them that you are here to be beneficial, then they will trust you.”
However, sometimes Nambatya still faces challenges finding participants and ensuring their follow up. She has even had to visit patients houses to ensure they continue with the study. Yet, she is still very proud of the work that she has done recruiting and collecting samples from 150 adult participants ahead of schedule and starting the children recruitment.